How can I stop my dog's endless barking?

A surefire way to keep your pooch quiet even if he's one big talker.

My neighbors say that my dog starts barking as soon as I leave and doesn't stop until I get home. Why does he do that?

Dogs bark for many reasons, but when you're gone, loneliness, territorialism, and boredom are usually at the heart of it. Separation anxiety occurs in a very small number of dogs, but if that were the case here, you'd normally see other symptoms like having accidents, destructiveness, and being clingy when you leave. Then there are owners who've reinforced barking. When they hear a noise outside they say: "Who's there?" inciting a barking frenzy that they reward with laughter or praise.

Frequently, dogs who bark while their owners aren't home have learned that barking gets them what they want. Note your reaction when you're home and your dog barks at you. Do you produce a treat, toss him a toy, or run to the door so he can go outside? Housebreaking issues are exempt from that last example. Teaching your dog that barking doesn't cause you to spring into action will help extinguish the behavior.

For the times when you do leave, make sure that your dog is suitably exercised and has cool toys to play with while you're away, and make the good-bye brief and unemotional. Avoid cue words that trip off the behavior you don't want. If your last words are always "I'm going to miss you!" simply stop saying it. Fifteen minutes before leaving, turn on the radio or TV for white noise, give your dog a pacifier, like a stuffed hard rubber toy, and skip the long good-byes. Eventually, he'll look forward to his reward. If the barking continues, and your dog isn't elderly or ill, then consider a citronella collar, a tried-and-true painless remedy. A microphone on the battery-operated collar picks up the bark and discharges a citronella spritz, a harmless, plant-based fragrance that's unpleasant to dogs. Almost 90 percent of owners who used the collars in a Cornell University study reported a decrease in barking. Your dog will have to figure out what's triggering the collar to spray, but he'll soon have the epiphany that his barking is the culprit, restoring peace to the neighborhood.

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CITRONELLA COLLAR TIPS* The collar microphone can be activated by other dogs in close proximity, so homes with multiple barking dogs should try another solution. * Sound-sensitive/fearful dogs may be frightened by the spray sound. * Occasionally a "genius" dog learns to turn his head to the side and bark madly until the collar empties and then barks, penalty free, until it's refilled! * I like the Premier Gentle Spray Collar (about $80; available at carealotpets.com and pet stores).

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